Expansion bracelet



July 18, 195() s, MEYERSON 2,515,884

EXPANSION BRACELET Filed oct. 22, 194e Patented .uy 18,1195() UNITED VSTATES PATENT OFFICE EXPANSION BRACELET Samuel Mcyerson, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application October 22, 1946, Serial No. 704,951

1 Claim.

This invention relates to expansion linkage.V

useful for bracelets or similar pur-poses.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an expansible linkage made up of a series of `articulated hollow links of .improved con- 2 pivots 32 which may conveniently be formed integral with the plates I4 and upon which the plates I8 are pivoted. The plates I8 have holes 34 therein of sufficient size to rotate freely upon struction provided with spring means for retract-51'" ing the links so as to normally draw the linkage to contracted position. .i If used for a bracelet or the like, this construction permits the linkage to expand so that it may be` slipped over l.the

hand onto thewrist where it will be retracted'ff"A suiciently to maintain its position. Specific objects and advantages of the invention will ap- 'pear in connection with the `following detailed side walls of said shells.

the pivots 32. The pivots 32 are flanged over at 36 so as to hold the links together.

The improved spring construction of the present invention comprises the coil springs 38, one mounted in each of the hollow pivots, such springs having upper end portions 4d located inside of the outer shells I6 and exerting pressure in the The lower ends of the springs 38 have arms 42 which extend over the lower plates I8, the ends of the arms being hooked as indicated at 44 and engaging in notches 46 formed in the sides of the plates. The arms 42 extend diagonally across the plates just inside of '..the offset portions 26 which preferably engage Fig. 2 is a similar View on an enlarged scale of the opposite face of the linkage, certain of the inside shells being omitted to show the springs;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the linkage partly extended;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the parts further enlarged;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one of the inside plates; and

Fig. 6 is a section of one of the inside links taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail:

The linkage is made up of articulated links of two types, marked I0 and I2, respectively. Preferably, the links I0 are so designed as to form the outer or visible side of the bracelet and will be designated as outside links, while links I2 will be referred to as inside links. It will be understood, however, that this arrangement may be reversed if desired.

The links I0 are hollow, being formed of plates i4 to which are attached the outside shells I'i. The inside links are also hollow, being composed of the inside plates I8 and the inside shells 20. The outside shells are secured to the outside plates I4 in any suitable manner as by being flanged over as indicated at 22 in Fig. 2. For securing the inside shells to the inside plates, the latter are preferably provided with pressed offset portions 26, as shown in Fig. 5. The shells 28 are provided with tongues 28 which are bent around the offsets and into the recesses 38 formed by such offsetting, as shown in Fig. 6. The links are articulated to one another by means of hollow the sides of the arms, thereby helping to hold the springs with the hooked ends properly engaged in the notches 46. The construction is very compact as the arms 42 pass close to the surface of the plate I8, and the assembly of the ends of the springs in the notches may be very simply and quickly accomplished.

In operation, it will be seen that one end of each spring 40 bears against an outer link, while the other end of the same spring hooks into one of the notches 46 and bears directly against the side of the inside plate forming a part of the inner link. Thus the tendency is to swing adjacent inner links and outer links towards each other into the position shown in Fig. 2 and keep the linkage retracted.

It will be observed that the inside links I8, 20 have straight, parallel sides which are adapted to contact when the bracelet is retracted as shown in Fig. 2, the lines of contact being substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bracelet. It will also be observed that the centers of the pivots are offset with respect to a center line transverse to the longitudinal axis of the bracelet so that one of the pivots is nearer to one of the sides of the link and the other pivot is nearer to the other side of the link. Thus the axis passing through the two pivot centers is at a substantial angle to the sides of the link. This angularity of the link axis results in a favorable distribution of angularity between the inner and outer links, the inner links before expansion sloping in the same direction as the outer links but to a less degree. As the axes of the inner links swing from an angle at one side of a vertical axis (Fig. 2) to a reverse angle at the opposite side of the vertical (Fig. 3) it will be seen that a consider-1 be used. At the same time the links abut one another along vertical lines `producing a smooth effect for the inner surface of the bracelet,:with maximum comfort to the wearer. lfhe straight transverse line formation of the sadjaceiitfedges of the inside links also facilitates-.true curving. of the band when bent around the wrist and also helps to prevent twisting of the bandpparticularly when straightened out for exhibition prior -to attachment to 4the watch. The simplicityof .t'hefform ofthe linksperrnits them Atobefmade by vsimple .diesand makes .the vconstruction inexpensive. .The linksare. also .widerthan the -minimum..Width which.=would Ybe required to receive the pivots. and this extra :widthr facilitates -the applicationfand anchoring of-...the spring ends.

In the particular .embodiment of `the .invention `shown theendsof the link shells 20.1iein straight vparallel linesinclinedf-to the sides .of the links 4.so that they are of rhomboidal form with rounded corners but `thelink andfshell: ends. may be other- .Wiseashapedif desired, providedthe ends ofthe links, are so formed asnot toprotrudebeyond theendmargins of the outer. links as the band expands.

Whilel ,have illustrated and describedrinldetail certain. preferred f. forms of .my invention, it

is.to.v be understood:thatchanges may `bexmade ,therein .and :the .invention embodied ain .other o o ing '.pressureron'. the links.

structures. I do not, therefore, desire to limit myself to the specic constructions illustrated, but intend to cover my invention broadly in whatever form its principle may be embodied.

What I claim is:

An expansible and retractable linkage comprising alternating outside links and inside links and hollow pivots connecting the ends of said 1inks,'lines passing through the pivot centers of 10 the loutside and *inside links alll being substantially inclined to the longitudinal axis of the "linkage before expansion, alternate links being zinclin'e'd vin the same direction but at different angles, the inside links having substantially AN5-straiglfxtlongitudinal sides lying in lines substantially y.at.-right-fang1es to the longitudinal axis of the linkage when the linkage is fully contracted, the centers of the pivots of each inside link being located respectively one nearer to one 20V side surface ofithezlinkyand f the-other nearer to the othertsideasurface of thealink,=rso thataline connecting :such :pivots .is i at Ia substantial angle fto. the-,side edgesof-thelink, the .ends of the inner -linksl-yingfsubstantially adjacent t0 the endsof theouterilin'ks during :normal expansion 4of the :band, and ysprings for retracting :.said llinkage, yeachspringihaving a coiled'portion tting'in a .hollow-pivotandhaving arms exerting retract- `SAMUEL MEYERSON.

FREEERENCES .CITED -The'following'references are of record inthe ,UNITED .STATES PATENTS Number y Name Date .2,267,967 lAugenstein Dec. 30, 1941 2,376,633 Szeglinet al May 22, 1,945 

